The exclusion of gay men is over,
announces Health Canada
(Ottawa) Health Canada agreed on Thursday to remove the barrier that prevents men who have had sex with men within three months from donating blood, but in Quebec, this ban will remain in the short term except for donations of plasma. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggests that he would like Héma-Québec to step up the pace.
"I hope that Héma-Québec will be able to do the same as soon as possible because [que] it would not be fair for Canadians across the country, except in Quebec, to see an end to this discrimination," he said. said at a press briefing in the corridors of parliament.
“But it's up to Héma-Québec to make the determinations. It is an independent agency,” he nevertheless added.
Health Canada has agreed to a request from Canadian Blood Services to allow blood donation to men who are sexually active with other men. The approved changes are to come into effect by September 30 and are to defer only "any donor who engages in high-risk sexual behaviors, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation."
Situation in QuebecIn Quebec, however, Héma-Québec only authorizes plasma donation for men who have had sex with other men. Those who have been sexually active within three months are excluded, a requirement that will be lifted next fall. However, it is only in a second phase, from the spring of 2023, that the organization intends to take steps to expand to all blood donations.
A spokesperson for Héma-Québec, Laurent-Paul Ménard, explained in an interview that the organization decided to opt for a gradual approach after consulting various stakeholders, such as groups of recipients.
"They had notified us of their agreement to proceed in two stages, which meant that it allowed for better acceptability [...] of the process," he said, adding that Héma-Québec had no intention of turn away from this approach.
Mr. Ménard indicated that the receivers' groups represent “an extremely important stakeholder”. In his opinion, Health Canada's approval of Canadian Blood Services' request is “excellent news” since it means that the second phase of Héma-Québec's expansion can easily go ahead.
"We are talking, for all practical purposes, of a difference of one season and Héma-Québec will arrive at exactly the same destination," he said of the months of lag between the coming into force of the relaxation outside Quebec and that targeted in the Belle Province.
The Canadian Hemophilia Society (CHS) for its part indicated on Thursday that it would have preferred that Health Canada stick to this two-step approach advocated by Héma-Québec. According to the CHS, such an approach is “more cautious”.
"We believe this change will increase, albeit very slightly, the risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens, such as HIV, to recipients of fresh blood and its components," the CHS President said in a statement. Wendy Quinn. The CHS would have preferred that Health Canada introduce these new donor selection criteria in two stages: first to plasma donors, and then, with supporting data, to fresh blood donors. »
An election promiseIn addition, Justin Trudeau did not fail to recall that he campaigned, in 2015, by promising the end of the ban on giving blood imposed on all men who are sexually active with other men, and this, even if they only have one sexual partner. The disqualification period was five years in 2015 and has gradually decreased to currently stand at three months.
"It's frustrating that it took so long," commented the Prime Minister about the possible total lifting of the ban,
surrounded by members of his openly gay caucus.
Mr. Trudeau pointed out that his government has allocated millions of dollars in funding for studies
on the subject, at the request of Canadian Blood Services.
“But it's up to Héma-Québec to make the determinations. It is an independent agency,” he nevertheless added.
Health Canada has agreed to a request from Canadian Blood Services to allow blood donation to men who are sexually active with other men. The approved changes are to come into effect by September 30 and are to defer only "any donor who engages in high-risk sexual behaviors, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation."
Situation in QuebecIn Quebec, however, Héma-Québec only authorizes plasma donation for men who have had sex with other men. Those who have been sexually active within three months are excluded, a requirement that will be lifted next fall. However, it is only in a second phase, from the spring of 2023, that the organization intends to take steps to expand to all blood donations.
A spokesperson for Héma-Québec, Laurent-Paul Ménard, explained in an interview that the organization decided to opt for a gradual approach after consulting various stakeholders, such as groups of recipients.
"They had notified us of their agreement to proceed in two stages, which meant that it allowed for better acceptability [...] of the process," he said, adding that Héma-Québec had no intention of turn away from this approach.
Mr. Ménard indicated that the receivers' groups represent “an extremely important stakeholder”. In his opinion, Health Canada's approval of Canadian Blood Services' request is “excellent news” since it means that the second phase of Héma-Québec's expansion can easily go ahead.
"We are talking, for all practical purposes, of a difference of one season and Héma-Québec will arrive at exactly the same destination," he said of the months of lag between the coming into force of the relaxation outside Quebec and that targeted in the Belle Province.
The Canadian Hemophilia Society (CHS) for its part indicated on Thursday that it would have preferred that Health Canada stick to this two-step approach advocated by Héma-Québec. According to the CHS, such an approach is “more cautious”.
"We believe this change will increase, albeit very slightly, the risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens, such as HIV, to recipients of fresh blood and its components," the CHS President said in a statement. Wendy Quinn. The CHS would have preferred that Health Canada introduce these new donor selection criteria in two stages: first to plasma donors, and then, with supporting data, to fresh blood donors. »
An election promiseIn addition, Justin Trudeau did not fail to recall that he campaigned, in 2015, by promising the end of the ban on giving blood imposed on all men who are sexually active with other men, and this, even if they only have one sexual partner. The disqualification period was five years in 2015 and has gradually decreased to currently stand at three months.
"It's frustrating that it took so long," commented the Prime Minister about the possible total lifting of the ban,
surrounded by members of his openly gay caucus.
Mr. Trudeau pointed out that his government has allocated millions of dollars in funding for studies
on the subject, at the request of Canadian Blood Services.
EMILIE BERGERON
THE CANADIAN PRESS
https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/sante/2022-04-28/dons-de-sang/l-exclusion-des-hommes-homosexuels-est-terminee-annonce-sante-canada.php
THE CANADIAN PRESS
https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/sante/2022-04-28/dons-de-sang/l-exclusion-des-hommes-homosexuels-est-terminee-annonce-sante-canada.php